Viking mythology has made its impact through all forms of media. Whether it be movies, T.V shows, books, video games, but what if Viking culture made its way to music. Classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin have used Norse mythology to carve and flesh out hit songs that are still recognizable to this day. Songs such as Immigrant song, is filled with Norse references in the lyrics such as
“We come from the land of the ice and snow
Hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new land
To fight the hordes and sing, and cry
Valhalla, I am coming”
With this reference, it calls back to Odin’s son, Thor, and the place where all Vikings want to end up when they die, their Heaven Valhalla. Additionally, with more references to raiding, coming from a cold environment shows more intel on Viking life. More lyrics include
“Can whisper tales of gore
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords
On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore”
Our only goal will be the western shore”
With the additional lyrics, Led Zeppelin reference sagas, the tales of Viking sagas, and the exploration and conquest Vikings were known for.
With more references to Valhalla, the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, dabbled In Norse culture, with their song titled Valhalla.Lyrics are included, such as 
“The Kingdom of Odin is the Kingdom of GodsWhere only souls of the brave may rest in peace
But someone among them had the skill of deceit
And raised the hand that would open the road to Hell”
With these references, again going with Odin, and the concept of Heaven and Hell, with Valhalla, and hell being hell. All the warrior’s goals being able to be admitted into the great hall.
With classic rock bands being influenced by Norse culture, a subgenre of rock and metal music formed, exclusively with Viking, and Norse culture. This genre is known as Viking metal, with lyrics and themes being focused on Norse culture. The emergence of Viking metal came from the late 1980s to early 1990s, coming from black metal. Although rooting with black metal, as an opposition to Christianity, Viking metal didn’t turn to Satanism, but towards Vikings and pagans. The band Bathory, a Swedish extreme metal band was cited as having the first Viking metal album Hammerheart. The album was a commercial success, the band continued to make Viking metal for the rest of its time, paving the way for the genre and more bands to follow.
With the emerge of Viking metal, it should be noted that the genre has been associated by Nazis, and fragile masculinity. Although some Viking metal bands contain some female lead singers, the genre is equipped to reinforce traditional gender roles, with males as the forefront leaders, with women just being along for the ride.
Vikings, and their culture have made their mark on all mediums of entertainment. Even today, making their own genre of entertainment, Norse culture was able to slip into the modern world, with their own cult following, and is clearly here to stay in this day and age.
You stole my third post, man. I have often noticed lyrical influences of viking culture on songwriting in general, as the lyrics of even the sagas are poetic and translate well to songs. In recent years, Amon Amarth has emerged as a vikingcore band and while they do focus more on mythology, it is interesting to note the cultural and militaristic influences they exhibit as well. It is cool that the nordic cultures are reassimilating viking myth with modern music.
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